The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-05-18
Buds of Promise.
BY !" AuNTIE b. Y

cred our infant into this beautiful world,
had bathed and dressed it, and many
wonder what more there is for us to do.
We must care for it tenderly day by
day by not emitting the daily bath, the
careful drying of the tender flesh, the
powdering and-so-forth. Be sure and
have the diapers sufficiently large, so
the little limbs are not pinched and
almost deformed by too close contine
ment, for the soft bones are easily
changed from their symmetry by care
lessness. If the child is afflicted with
sore mouth (Which is doubtful, if the
cold water is used after each bath)
preparation of chlorate of potassa and
glycerine is excellent. To one-half
tea-spoonful of chlorate put two ounces
of soft water and one-half ounce of
glycerine. Make soft swab of old
linen and wash the mouth several times
a day with it. Have a cup of clean
water near by and wash the swab in
that before using the second time. Sage
tea sweetened with honey is good, but
not as agreeable. Just here let me say,
never boil any kind of herbs. Their use
fulness is almost entirely destroyed by
the boiling process. Have the water
boiling hot, and pour on the herbs,
which have been placed in new tin, or,
which is much better, in earthern. Cover
closely and allow them to steep several
minutes. Then strain and they are ready
for use. How many children die in the
first flush of babyhood; but after the
nurse has left them in the care of the
new mother there is no reasonable ex-
cuse for the child's health to suffer if
mamma will only strive to improve her
spare moments in preparing herself for
this emergency. 1t is quite necessary
that the child be kept from crying very
long or hard until the bowels are well
healed, so as 10 prevent any rupture.
After that an occasional cry will not in
jure them, and may perhaps be neces-
sary for the mother to discharge other
duties as well as care for baby. l do
not intend to convey the idea that it
will be an advantage for her to listen
to the tones of distress, but after a few
trials they will cease and the child will
learn to be good without constant atten-
ton. If the subject in question has a
nervous temperament it may become
necessary to turn the child over on the
opposite side or to speak quietly and
lovingly to it; sometimes short lullaby
is the most effective. Do not allow
yourself or others to take them up every
time, for their little heads are wiser
than we think, and they soon learn
when we take them in our arms to stop
their crying. In many instances it is
wind in the stomach, or gas, as one of
our renowned physicians said when /
mentioned the fact that the child cried
on account of wind in its stomach.
He said: How? l did not under
stand" and as / reiterated my remark,
he said: ooh, gasl" OF course | was
positively corrected, but you undoubt-
edly understand the term wind. Some
times weak tea of essence of pepper
mint is sufficient, or the herb stepped
Spearmint tea is equally good sweet
ened little. Administer tea-spoonful
or so and wait a few minutes before
giving more. Sometimes gentle trot.
ting motion will help remove the wind.
Putting a warm brick in your lap and
sitting or laying the child upon it will
in connection with the warm tea, as
sist nature to overcome the pain. Ir
all things pertaining to childhood We
need patience. Patience is essential il
helping us to overcome slight illness
and in teaching us to govern our
selves in all things. We are not always
loving and kind when tired and nerv
Gus, but the angel Patience will come
to our assistance if we call.
"He walks with thee, that angel kind,
And gently whispers, Be resigned
Bear up bear on, the end shall tell;
The dear Lord ordereth all things we'll"